New 5.0 Build

[bristol5.0]

We have just received the 1st photos of our 5.0 build and we are very excited. The completion date is estimated at 3/11/21 and we have secured a 4/12/21 pickup date in Sumas which requires a cross country trip from Bristol, RI. We plan a 4 to 5 week return trip. More on this later, but for now these are our photos:

[bristol5.0]

We have substantial experience with camping, from backpacking (when we were much younger) to tent camping and a few trailers. The most recently was a Casita Freedom which we had for 5 years before we sold it late last year. We loved that Casita, but we've upgraded our tow vehicle specifically to pull the Escape 5.0 - this is our build sheet for those interested. We have a good sense of how we camp and what is important for us.
BUILD SHEET
2021, Escape 5.0 Tandem Axle
Interior: Contemporary
Standard Options:
Oven with 3 Burner Cooktop (includes bi-fold stove cover and black rangehood)
Two-way Hot Water Tank (Propane & 120V)
Foot Flush Toilet
Toilet Shut Off Valve (for winterization)
Exterior Shower (Driver and/or Passenger Side)
Single: Passenger Side
Dual 6V Lead-Acid Batteries
190W Solar Panel with Charge Controller
Additional 190W Solar Panel
Electrical Management System with Surge Protector
Removable Power Cord
LED Awning Light Strip
Air Conditioner with Digital Thermostat (Dometic 11,000 BTU)
Wireless Back-Up Camera (display monitor wired with 12V plug)
Stereo with Four Speakers (Bluetooth/FM/AM/CD/DVD/USB)
TV Antenna (includes TV Ready with 120V) (Does not include TV)
Frameless Windows (including split-opening rear window)
Window in Bathroom (opening, frameless)
Body Lift Kit (required if truck side wall height exceeds 56")
Double Step Entry Step (replaces standard single step)
Exterior Access Hatch (rear passenger side)
Convert Bench Seat to U-Shaped Dinette
Stainless Steel Backsplash in Kitchen
Lagun Adjustable Swiveling Table Mount
12V Interior Outlet: #2, #3, #4, #5, #6
Additional LED Captains Reading Lamp: #1, #2
Standard Flooring: Filigree Pewter #4090
Standard Formica: Mineral Jet #3450-58
Trim Choice: Black
Standard Fabric: Summit Ash #96
Full Wrap on Cushions (Standard fabric)
Graphics Colour: Battleship Gray #870
INSTALL Exterior co-ax connector on the DS front above window. Terminate cable in rear OH cabinet.
1 x 12V Drop DS OH Cabinet by W2 (power for cell phone booster)
SPLIT 2" Rear Back Cushion
SPLIT Rear Seat Cushion
SPLIT Rear seat plywood
CUT Rear Corners on standard table
INSTALL CX provided sink Houzer E-100 Basket & Strainer
Fled Propane Tanks
Sand Pads

[kavm]

All the best! We just finalized a Escape 5 build - with a lot of the same choices. Your pictures look good. Look forward to reading your pickup experience. We too are going to drive to Sumas, WA to pick up - though the trip is a bit shorter for us.

[NEWYORKHILLBILLY]

Very exciting to see all you planning coming together. congratulations!!

[camp4528]

Very nice build sheet Bristol. Thank you for sharing it.

I have a couple of questions if you are willing...
- Was the Lead-Acid battery instead of Lithium batteries a cost thing or was there another reason?
- What is your plan for the cell booster antenna?

Thanks!

[WillyB]

Originally Posted by bristol5.0

We have just received the 1st photos of our 5.0 build and we are very excited. The completion date is estimated at 3/11/21 and we have secured a 4/12/21 pickup date in Sumas which requires a cross country trip from Bristol, RI. We plan a 4 to 5 week return trip. More on this later, but for now these are our photos:

If you don't want to pull it all the way back to Rhode Island you can store it at my house in St. Louis. I'll be make sure the tires get routinely "rotated" so they don't get any flat spots.

[bristol5.0]

Originally Posted by camp4528

Very nice build sheet Bristol. Thank you for sharing it.

I have a couple of questions if you are willing...
- Was the Lead-Acid battery instead of Lithium batteries a cost thing or was there another reason?
- What is your plan for the cell booster antenna?

Thanks!

Most of the time we stay at sites that have electricity - especially when we go to the Gulf Coast in winter. I installed 100 watts of solar on the very limited space on the roof of the Casita with the standard battery and it sufficed when we stayed at sites with no utilities. We did upgrade to 2x6 volt batteries, and we will see how that works out. Upgrades to include portable solar panel and LiFePO4 or other batteries will be considered.


This is the same booster we used on the Casita and it worked out OK. The only problem was maximizing the distance between the outside receiving antenna and the inside antenna to eliminate a feedback loop. We plan on having a truckers antenna near the front of the 5.0 and the amplifier in the rear overhead compartment with the inside antenna near by. That's why we have the RG6 cable going from the front to rear with a 6 volt drop.

[bristol5.0]

Originally Posted by WillyB

If you don't want to pull it all the way back to Rhode Island you can store it at my house in St. Louis. I'll be make sure the tires get routinely "rotated" so they don't get any flat spots.

Thanks for the offer! However we have plans for doing our own tire maintenance. Here's the first bit:

[rmitch]

Originally Posted by bristol5.0

Thanks for the offer! However we have plans for doing our own tire maintenance. Here's the first bit:
Attachment 53853

What are the stops you have planned? A - I

[bristol5.0]

The stops A-I on my map above will take about 12 days.

We continue south to Morro Bay before heading east to Grand Canyon. We had originally planned on picking up the trailer a week after expected completion day but changed it to a month later to allow for ETI supply issues and complete Covid19 immunizations. It will take us about a month to return to Bristol, RI around mid-May.

[kavm]

Originally Posted by bristol5.0

...


This is the same booster we used on the Casita and it worked out OK. The only problem was maximizing the distance between the outside receiving antenna and the inside antenna to eliminate a feedback loop. We plan on having a truckers antenna near the front of the 5.0 and the amplifier in the rear overhead compartment with the inside antenna near by. That's why we have the RG6 cable going from the front to rear with a 6 volt drop.

Very nice idea around the RG6 cable for the antenna. We would have included it in our build if we had thought of it...

[camp4528]

Thank you very much for posting the answers to my newbie questions.

May I ask about the external antenna? I understand you will screw the coax from the external antenna into the socket at the DS front window, and then plug the other end of the inside coax run into the booster at the other end of the trailer. How do you plan to attach the antenna to the trailer? Or will it be freestanding and set up when you stop? It looks like there is a connector widget doohickey (eg, weBoost) with the that might be adapted to attach to the solar panel mount but was wondering.

I’m also enjoying your trip planning exercise. That won’t be my pickup route, but it is a route I would like to do sometime.

Thanks.

[rmitch]

Originally Posted by bristol5.0

The stops A-I on my map above will take about 12 days.
Attachment 53854
We continue south to Morro Bay before heading east to Grand Canyon. We had originally planned on picking up the trailer a week after expected completion day but changed it to a month later to allow for ETI supply issues and complete Covid19 immunizations. It will take us about a month to return to Bristol, RI around mid-May.

Attachment 53855

Very nice and very similar to our trip home from Sumas after picking up the 5.0 in may of 2019.
In Morro Bay you MUST go to the Dockside Grill and have BBQ Oysters, yum. A suggestion on your way to the Grand Canyon: a great stop is Joshua Tree National Park. Have fun and enjoy the trip and the new trailer. When we picked up the trailer we made a rule, anytime the trailer is unhooked it must stay for at least 2 days. This has worked out very well, it makes you slow down a little.

[bristol5.0]

Originally Posted by camp4528

Thank you very much for posting the answers to my newbie questions.

May I ask about the external antenna?

On the Casita we had modified a paint roller extension pole and attached the antenna on top. It rested on the back bumper and utilized the coax cable connector that was standard on the Casita. It would be mounted when we stopped. That's 1 possibility for the Escape but up front maybe utilizing the pin box. We have 2 solar panels on the 5.0 and could possible use one of the front mounting brackets to attach a trucker's antenna without any extensions. That would always be mounted, even underway. I haven't decided which way to go.

[camp4528]

Originally Posted by bristol5.0

On the Casita we had modified a paint roller extension pole and attached the antenna on top. It rested on the back bumper and utilized the coax cable connector that was standard on the Casita. It would be mounted when we stopped. That's 1 possibility for the Escape but up front maybe utilizing the pin box. We have 2 solar panels on the 5.0 and could possible use one of the front mounting brackets to attach a trucker's antenna without any extensions. That would always be mounted, even underway. I haven't decided which way to go.

Thank you for the explanation and your thought process. I have seen discussions here of mounting the external antenna on "flag poles" at the back, and trying to keep the booster and internal antenna directly underneath to help with the feedback issue. Yours also seems to be a very interesting approach to the problem.

[bristol5.0]

Originally Posted by rmitch

Very nice and very similar to our trip home from Sumas after picking up the 5.0 in may of 2019.
In Morro Bay you MUST go to the Dockside Grill and have BBQ Oysters, yum.

We will definitely visit the Dockside Grill. Seafood is a major part of our diet, and we're fortunate to live where fresh seafood is readily available.

Also more photos just came in - looks like most of the interior contemporary framing is in.

[Centex]

Congrats on the build and thanks for posting the photos

Can't get too many of those, each person's build pics seem to reveal or clarify yet another interesting construction detail that's hidden when all is done. The contrast between your contemporary paneling and framing is particularly nice for that purpose, so thank you!

[rubicon327]

Originally Posted by bristol5.0

Also more photos just came in - looks like most of the interior contemporary framing is in.
Attachment 53863

Attachment 53864

Glad to see they now have the floor protected.

[bristol5.0]

Originally Posted by rubicon327

Glad to see they now have the floor protected.

Exactly Diane's sentiment!

[ucancallmejay]

Perfect! I think I will just copy/paste those selections! Good to hear from some fellow Rhodyelanders..
J